Lab Activity: Mapping the Earth’s Surface
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Purpose/Objective: Students will learn how to read latitude and longitude on a world map
identify major landmarks and plot specific locations, given their coordinates.
Standards Addressed: E.S. 1b and I & E 1f
Hypothesis: None
Materials: World map, color pencils
Procedure:
1. Using the map from the instructor, label all the latitude and longitude lines onto your
map.
2. Label the equator and prime meridian onto your map.
3. Write the names of each ocean and continent onto your map.
Data/Analysis
1. Name one continent in each of the northern and southern hemisphere.
2. List the continents and oceans that the equator passes through.
3. List the continents and oceans that the prime meridian passes through.
4. Write each of these map locations on your lab write-up, label them on your map, and
identify the continent or ocean they are found on in your lab write-up: a) 15S, 65W b)
85N, 160E c) 40N, 88E d) 20S, 135E e) 40N, 140W f) 30N, 5E g) 45N, 105W h)
55N, 30W
5. Locate the each of the following landmarks on your world map. Write the names in
your lab write-up and give their coordinates:
i)
Mount St. Helens, WA
j)
Niagra Falls, NY
k)
Mt. Everest, Nepal
l)
The Congo
m)
Rome, Italy
n)
The Amazon River, Brazil
o)
Hong Kong, China
p)
The Nile River, Egypt
Conclusion
What was the purpose/objective for this lab activity? Where are most of the world’s land
masses (continents) located with respect to the equator? What is needed to find specific
locations on a map? How are maps useful to us? Below your conclusion, sketch a map from
memory that shows how you get from your home to school. Make sure to label all streets
that you know, as well as any important landmarks.